Periodontal Care and Maintenance

Periodontal Care & Periodontal Disease

Your gums and the bone surrounding your teeth (periodontium) are the structural foundation for your teeth. The optimal health of your periodontium is a critical factor in long term oral health. At our office we focus on the health of your gums and give you all the knowledge and instruction available for you to fully care for your oral health.

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition affecting the teeth. As the bacteria gather in the gum pockets that surround the teeth, they release toxins that cause inflammation and slowly start eating away at the bone that supports your teeth. If a lot of bone is lost, the teeth subsequently become loose and may need to be extracted.

Sometimes bone loss is not visible to the naked eye. That is why it is important to visit the dentist to get xrays and exams to insure your gums and bone are at optimal health.

Some signs of gum disease include bleeding gums when you brush, sensitive and swollen gums, bad breath, loose teeth.

Sometimes patients who are smokers do not exhibit these signs and symptoms of periodontal disease, and may be surprised to find out they have a problem in their mouths. Therefore again it is important to get regular dental care.

Different people require different periodontal care depending on oral health and stage of gum disease. We provide deep cleanings as well as regular cleanings, and work with your schedule to make sure you keep up with maintenance.

How to prevent gum disease

Regular dental visits are not the only thing you can do to prevent gum disease. By practicing the following habits, you can stay healthy and keep gum disease away:

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Don’t just clean your teeth; Remember the gums around your teeth are just as important! Also plaque on your tongue can easily host a variety of bacteria, not to mention cause bad breath.
• Whether you are using a regular toothbrush or a manual one, the most important thing is where you place the toothbrush. This can help!
• Use an antiseptic, fluoride, or anti-plaque mouthwash. Any other type of mouthwash won’t do you much good.
• Floss daily by curving the floss around each tooth, "forming a C shape" and gently moving it under the gum line. By moving it up and down gently, you can scrape off the hidden plaque.
• From time to time, use disclosing tablets found in most drugstores. These chewable items will color the plaque leftover from brushing, showing you what you missed.
• Of course, see your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. No matter how good you are at keeping your teeth clean, your dentist can help you do it better!

Dental Care for Periodontal Disease

If you do have periodontal disease you need to have regular dental care. Your dentist will perform what patients know as a “deep cleaning”. This sometimes consists of numbing your gums and teeth to makes the experience more comfortable for you.

For a deep cleaning or "scaling", the dentist will clean the stone/calculus buildup that is under your gums. This stone contains bacteria and toxins, which can cause you to lose bone and the gums around teeth as well as, cause bad breath and taste.

You should be aware that your mouth is connected to your whole body and gum disease has been linked to everything from heart disease to diabetes to Alzheimers.